Optical element and optical scanning device using the same

Abstract

Provided is an optical element capable of reducing Fresnel (surface) reflection on a lens surface which causes flare or ghost, an optical system including the optical element, and an optical scanning device including the optical element. The optical element includes: a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged subwave structures having an anti-reflection function, and in the optical element when directions orthogonal to each other within a plane including a tangent of a vertex of the optical surface are set as a first and second directions, each of distances between the subwave structures changes in at least one of the first and second directions, and an arbitrary subwave structure is located with a state in which a distance between the arbitrary subwave structure and one of the subwave structures closest to the arbitrary subwave structure is shorter than ½ of an average wavelength of the light beam incident on the optical surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to an optical element having an anti-reflection function and optical scanning device using the optical element. In particular, the present invention is suitable for an optical system of an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer, a digital copying machine, or a multifunction printer, which has, for example, an electrophotographic process, and employs a structure in which a light beam emitted from a light source means is deflected by an optical deflector (deflecting means) to optically scan a surface to be scanned through an imaging optical system. The optical system includes an optical element which has an fθ characteristic and in which a subwave structural grating is provided, thereby recording image information.[0003]2. Related Background Art[0004]In a conventional scanning optical apparatus such as a laser beam printer (LBP), a light beam modulated in accordance with an imag...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This solution effectively reduces Fresnel reflection, improving image quality by minimizing flare and ghosting, and maintaining uniform light intensity distribution on the scanned surface without the need for additional processing like coating.

Problems solved by technology

However, in view of technical aspects and cost, it is difficult to apply an anti-reflection coat to a lens surface of a lens made of plastic.

As a result, Fresnel reflection is caused on the lens surface.

Therefore, light reflected on a lens surface on which the anti-reflection coat is not applied is reflected on another optical surface to finally reach the surface to be scanned, resulting in ghost.

The ghost light thus generated leads to, for example, a partial density difference, which deteriorates an image outputted from an image forming apparatus.

However, an arrangement of two-dimensionally arranged gratings is not sufficiently disclosed.

Although the gratings are arranged at random, a variation allowable range of the random arrangement is not sufficiently disclosed.

However, the grating which shows the dielectric constant differently on the two axes, that is, the grating arrangement direction and the direction perpendicular to the grating arrangement direction, cannot obtain a sufficient anti-reflection effect.

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